I love Christmas. Who Knew? My parents made each holiday season so special. Even though they were grown-ups they had managed to keep that child-like joy of dressing things up and making everything sparkle. The anticipation of the big day was palpable in our house and all of us joined in with the preparations. Nothing was too much, if it stood still we put tinsel and lights on it!
But, With only twenty-two shopping days till Christmas and with time flying by at a rate of knots, it’s easy to start panicking like a rabbit in the headlights. Fear not my friends, I’m here to keep you calm and give you a helping hand.
In this mini guide I’ll be giving you gift ideas, christmas tree finds, things to do and a whole host of other ideas. Top that with my Prepare Ahead Christmas Dinner from last week, you can rest assured that the festive season is under control! Everything is based on things I have already tried and tested myself. They won’t be in this guide unless I know they are great!
The Tree
I always used to insist on a real tree and actually, we do still buy a small real spruce for our kitchen/dining area. However, as the years have gone by it has kind of fallen to me to decorate the house for Christmas. I love it, so that’s not a complaint, but I do like to decorate the whole house. So, to take the stress away I bought a faux pre-lit tree ten years ago. It’s still going strong and B&Q still sell it now. It’s called The Thetford. You might have seen it being advertised a lot on instagram recently. It definitely stands the test of time.
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It’s also important to note that a faux tree needs to be used for ten years or more to overtake the environmental benefits of a real tree. So, I’m winning as I’ve done my ten years. It’s a real showstopper of a tree too, with 600 LED lights and standing 7.5ft tall. The branches are incredibly realistic and you can go one step further by adding scented sticks hidden within the tree. They’re called ScentSicles and once you’ve bought them you’ll never look back!
Quite a few of you have asked about our pre-lit faux tree in our garden. It’s by Cox and Cox and comes in three sizes. We have the 10ft tree. It’s called the Indoor Outdoor Fabulous Pre-lit Pine Tree and it is incredible quality. I have styled it both inside and outside of the house. The base has four holes in it so that you can either stake it to your lawn, or use screws as I have done, to secure it to our decking.
Wreath kits
Fancy making your own wreath, but want all the hard work of sourcing all the components done for you? Here’s my pick of some of the best kits sent straight to your door. Watch out next Sunday too, as I’ll be showing you how I made this year’s Christmas swag!
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Gifts
The race is on to get those special gifts in before the big day. If you’re anything like me, then the easy presents have already been bought. It’s those difficult people to buy for that I’m still struggling with. So I’ve delved into the wonderful world of independent shops, but also some of the larger brands to try and find the perfect gifts. I’ve also tried to share a few for my international readers too. I’m not doing the whole male and female gift guide thing as I’m not into pigeonholing gifts. You can decide who gets what and if your husband really wants that silky pink eye mask then I think his wish should come true!
*Some of the links are affiliate links, where I will earn a small commission. However, you will not pay any more because of this.
Perfect for displaying dried flower stems, small foraged branches and grasses, these ikebana vases have made using beautiful and individual pieces of reclaimed English oak.
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This shop is one of my favourite to visit in the entire world! You can find it nestled in the cobbled streets of Hastings Old Town in East Sussex. Luckily, they have an online shop too! If, like me, you have a thing for vintage homewares, cooking utensils and a penchant for handmade cleaning paraphernalia, then you won’t be able to resist!
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When I was 16 I met a girl called Rebecca. We studied drama together. Decades later, we found each other again on Instagram. Bec created House of Hera Candles dedicated to Hera, the Greek Goddess of women and fertility. I have tried all three goddesses, as she calls the candles. One for fire: Tobacco & Honey, one for water: Grecian Pear & Lily and one for earth: Toasted Almond & Plum. The scent is intoxicating even when the candles aren’t lit, filling the room with fragrance. The Tria Discovery Collection is a brilliant way to try them all. A little slice of heaven right there!
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Knitted in snuggly Irish spun Donegal wool, the Foragers wrist warmers are soft and cosy. Perfect to keep your wrists and hands toasty, leaving your fingers free to forage the woodland and hedgerows.
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I discovered Byredo about 15 years ago and I have been hooked ever since. It isn’t in any way inexpensive, but if you are looking for a fragrance for someone that doesn’t smell like anything else and that they almost certainly will not already have, then this is for you. My favourites are Mojave Ghost, Gypsy Water and Sunday Cologne.
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This little gem of a book cultivates gratitude and mindfulness - Journaling allows you to appreciate your life more for at least 5 minutes a day. The 5 Minute Journal for men and women is specially crafted for positive manifestation and improved confidence as you get on with your day. What’s not to love?
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The link above is for the United States. The British link is here. Mr C and I met in 1998. That Christmas we bought our first Swarovski Christmas star/snowflake (they alternate). We now have 26 of them, enough to decorate a tree! It’s the most wonderful tradition and a great heirloom. We also now buy one for whoever is staying with us for Christmas. It’s the perfect gift to remember the festive fun from each year. They go up in value too, just remember to keep the box!
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We bought these for almost everyone last year! They have a style of bag to suit all tastes and genders. Amazing quality and value, you can have your loved one’s initials embroidered on at no extra charge. They arrive with stunning gift bags too. Trust me, whoever you are buying for will be impressed!
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I’ve known Andie for years on Instagram, but it’s only recently that I’ve tried her incredibly scented candles. I have to say I have struggled to find a favourite as they are all wonderful. But, if I was forced to choose it would have to be Scholars & Shadows, followed closely by Snowladen Cedars. The former reminds me of my days as a child in Yorkshire at a Catholic seminary. Part of the school was where the Bronte sisters used to teach. There was an old library there that held antique literary treasures. I would sit reading for hours surrounded by the smell of old leather, finger-worn hardbacks and the perpetual back note of incense from the chapel.
Snowladen Cedars offers up notes of vetiver, jasmine and cedar wood. It’s an unusual fragrance reminiscent of the faded blooms and herbs in the garden as the first snow of the season lands on the branches of a nearby cedar tree. heavenly!
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The beauty secret of celebrity hairstylists, dermatologists, beauty experts and even a supermodel or two.
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This, my friends is an ingenious little contraption! I don’t pick up any leaves from my borders, but I do need to remove them from the lawn and then place them in a large pile to rot down as leaf mould. Just push the collector like you would a lawn mower and all the leaves are collected in the basket. Fabulous! I’ll be showing you how it works on Insta this Thursday.
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With a heating capability that rivals large professional pizza ovens, the compact Ooni Koda 12 outdoor pizza oven cooks them to perfection at home, or anywhere in 60 seconds flat. The gas-powered oven heats to impressively high cooking temperatures in just 15 minutes, with the built-in gas ignition and adjustable heat control dial keeping things simple.
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Christmas Games
Personally, I think the best games are the free ones. The ones where no one gets too intent on winning and everyone can just have a good old giggle. However, my favourite to download is Heads Up and to buy it’s the hysterically funny Bank Attack and Pictionary Air.
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Decorations, Tableware and more
If you saw my post on Instagram on Friday then you’ll have seen an advert that I did for Dunelm UK featuring their Evergreen Collection. I have to say I was entirely blown away by the quality of both the ornaments and the tableware. From Christmas tree shaped serving dishes to the plates with Merry, Peace and Joy printed on them, the whole collection is simple, wholesome and affordable. The Scandi forest inspired collection of decorations has a quality that is second to none and well worth a look at.
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Family activities
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Festive Fizz
It’s no secret I love a glass of champers. Indeed, I prefer it to almost anything else. English Sparkling Wine is really giving it a run for its money though and Gusbourne is producing some of the best the country has to offer.
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Wonderful JP. Loved everything. XxM
I want eeevvvvvvvveeerrrryyyyy thing!! And you’ve fallen in love with Gusbourne too.... Their rosé is the best!!
Great post JP. Brilliantly thought out as always. The Katie Loxton bags are wonderful (and thank you for ours last year!)
Merry merry Christmas my lovely friend xxx